The Goldmark Cultural Center’s Norman Brown Gallery is proud to present “SMART - Social Message Art”, a solo exhibition of new paintings by Goldmark artist Tony Strickland.

The exhibition is on display from 20 January 2023 to 24 February 2023, with an opening reception on Saturday, 1/21, from 1-3pm. During the opening reception, Tony Strickland will present an artist talk from 2-3pm in the Norman Brown Gallery.

About the Exhibition

2020 was easily the most tumultuous year of my life, I thought. With the sudden onset of COVID, coupled with all the civil and racial unrest from the George Floyd killing, and the consistent televised killings of unarmed Blacks by White police officers and their constant acquittals, it was obvious White society still fails to see the humanity in African Americans. Combine all of the above factors with the current political climate and the Insurrection at The Capitol in January 2021, and I knew I had to express myself creatively and become a part of the conversation.

However, all of these issues would become secondary and minuscule in my life with the sudden passing of my fiancé, Angela Woods, on June 5, 2022. My life has been forever altered, and all of the grief, memories, and emotional emptiness is reflected in the paintings produced since that date.

This series of paintings addresses all the above issues and is an accurate barometer of today’s political and racial climate. The series and concept is titled “SMART.” This is an acronym for Social Message Art. The paintings also bridge the gap between the disciplines of graphic design and fine art by executing graphic compositions in an expressive painterly style.

-Tony Strickland

Artist Statement

I firmly believe there’s an inner artist in every person, but the difference between the professional, and/or lifetime creative professional and the lay person, is the artist’s ability to face their fears and insecurities and pursue the final vision. This is my life’s purpose and journey. The pursuit of creative freedom, spiritual & intellectual growth, and the unexpected results and truths that are discovered as a result of this process.

-Tony Strickland